Cam grinding machine



Dec. 26, 1950 R. E; PRICE 2,535,549

CAM GRINDING MACHINE Filed 001;. 14, 1948 RALPH E- PRICE By w & Quorum Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAM GRINDING MACHINE Ralph E. Price, Highfield, Md., assignor to Land s Tool Company, Waynesboro, Pa.

Application October 14, 1948, Serial No. 54,370

Claims.

which discloses a reversing and indexing mechanism resembling that described herein} Patent No. 2,192,308, granted March 5, 1940, showing a dressing mechanism of the type referred to herein; and Patent No. 2,243,410, granted May 27, 1941, showing electrical and hydraulic systems used in a machine of this type.

This invention relates to the traverse and index cycle of a cam grinder and to the control of work rotation and wheel dressing between the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. The sequence of operations may be described briefly as follows:

The operator shifts the reversing lever to the right and latches it in this position. The work begins to rotate, the carriage moves to the right to position the first cam relative to the grinding {'wheel, the plunger drops in the notch in the spacing bar, and the timer starts to time the grinding operation. When the predetermined time has elapsed, the plunger is withdrawn and the carriage moves again to the right to the next position. As the carriage moves into position to grind the last cam, the reversing lever is unlatched and shifted to position for moving the carriage in the opposite direction, at the same time releasing a limit switch in the work drive motor circuit. ,Also, at the same time a dog on the spacing bar depresses a lfmit switch which prepares the dresser for operation as soon as fluid 7 under pressure is available. In the depressed position, this switch also keeps the work drive motor going during the grinding of the last cam when the start switch has been released by the revers- .ing lever.

After the last cam has been ground, the

plunger is withdrawn and held in-this position until the carriage is reset by moving to the left to position for starting another camshaft. As

movement to the left begins, the dresser limit switch is released to start the dressing operation and stop the rotation of the work. Work rotation is stopped with the work driving dog in a position for easy removal of the work piece from the h eh m ans or pp g the wed; in a of said lever. left-hand corner. thereof on a shaft 4|. The

. 2 predetermined position is disclosed in Patent No. 2,243,410, referred to above.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a combined hydraulic and electrical diagram of the elements essential to the control of the traverse, work drive, and wheel dressing mechanisms.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the means for unlatching the reversing lever.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a headstock and footstock for rotatably supporting a work piece on a workcarriage.

Numeral I0 indicates the work carriage of a grinding machine. The motor for traversing said carriage consists of a cylinder II and a piston l2 slidably mounted in said cylinder. A

piston rod ['3 on said piston may be attached to said carriage in any suitable manner (not shown).

. A work piece I4 is rotatably supported on carriage ill by headstock l5 and rootstock [5. When so supported, work piece [4 may be subjected to the action of a grinding Wheel l1. Said wheel may be mounted in any suitable manner, as disclosed inany of the above-mentioned patents.

Fluid under pressure for moving said carriage is directed to one side or the other of piston.l2 by a reversing valve 20 through lines 2| and '22.

Another portion 23 of valve 20 performs a function to be describedlater.

A by-pass valve 38, when in central position, connects lines 2! and 22 through lines 3i and 32 respectively so that carriage It may be actuated by hand without being obstructed by a locked body of fluid. Said by-pass valve also has another section 33 that directs fluid to a mechanism, which will be described later.

Said reversing valve and said by-pass valve may be actuated simultaneously through a combination of levers consisting of a U-shaped lever 40 having one side longer than the other, the longer side having a knob for manual actuation Said lever is pivoted at the lower short side of said lever is connected to one end of by-pass valve 38. A projecting member on lever 40 engages and operates headstock limit switch 8| for starting headstock motor 82.

A second lever 50 is located behind the short side of lever 40 and pivoted at 5|. The upper end of lever 5:! is connected to a horizontally slidable member 52 in which a plunger 53 is slidable vertically. The lower end of lever 50 is connected to reversing valve 20. When plunger 53 is in a notch, it acts through member 52 to locate reversing valve 20 in a neutral position.

A pin 42 in the short side of lever 40 extends through a hole 54 in lever 50. Said hole is about three times the diameter of the pin 42. A pair of pins 55 and 56 is slidably mounted in le* er 50 so that they extend at right angles to and engage pin 42. Movementof pins 55 ard 55 is restrained by sor ngs 51 and 58, secured to lever -50 near its pivot point and evtending down ardly to engage pins 55 and 55. Thus, when lever 40 is mo ed to right or to left, pin 42 causes a corresponding movement of lever 5'l a out its pivot "5|. "The up er end of lever 50, b in connected through slidin' memb r 52 to pl'n er 53,might cause a lateral movement of sad rlunger excrpt or the fact t at a reduced portion 5) on said plunger is normaly in en agement with any one of several otches 5'l in a soaung br BI on carriae I-l. When so r strained, themoercent o l ver 40 res'ultsony in shiftiug t e ins "i5 and 5'3 "'gains't sorngs 5" and 8 respectively.

When l ver 4 is place" in the right-handsosition'it is "urged toward the carria ebya spring (not shown) and latchedin'tcis position to prevent movements-Ether to r ht orto l ft-as shown in Figure 2. Means for latching saidlevercon- "sists'of afinger43 engaging anotch-M in a portion of lev r 40. When'so "oved,'p n'-42 pushes pin 55 'to the right against scrrr 5B. 'Wh n plunger 53 is' ithdrawnirom t e spa ing ber, lever 50 is released: and spring 58 causesit'to move 'in'a counterclockwise d r ction' a'nd shft reversing valve 20 *to "the right. The carria e moves froml ftto right: and-when the plunger drops in'the 'riext' notch, the movement cf'the "carriage carries it'a'sh'ort distance in the same 'directionsothat through s'liding'member 52 it shifts lever 50 in a clockwise direction and mo es 'valve'20'tothe left until ft'shuts off thesupply of I a bell crank rotatable about a verticalp'ivot "12 an having o'ne end thereof in contact "with lever-40. Movr-Emnt ofs'aid'carria'ge Ilrr'otate's said hell-crank H in a clockwise direction to "unlatch lever 40. Spring 13 'then'shifts saidle er 40 to its left-hand position. Thus, ever '40 fth'rough the spring-pressed pins 55 and 56 is loaded to-shift valve 20 to theleft as soon as plunger "'53 -'iswith'drawn. At the same time t at dog 10 enga es be l-crank "1|, another'tiog '90 engages "dresser limit switch s I *The? means for withdrawing'plunger '53 consists of a lever I "on 'shaft IOI. Arm IE2, '-'also I mounted on shaft I0 I extends horizontally into "operativeengagementwithiplunger 53. Another ar'm I03, also mounted on shaft "I0I, extends Fdownward between valve member-I04 and piston rod I I 05 from piston" I-OB -and cylinder I01.

-Valve- I04 contro's-the movementof the grinding wheel support, but as shown here a it has: no

function except toserve as a medium for moving lever I 00-and associated parts in a counterclockwise direction by means of spring I08. When so moved, lever :I00 through "arm I02 moves plunger "53 upward so "that the"reduced portion "proper time Whenlever '-I'00"and plunger 53 "are "actuated by timer piston l I06 to "withdraw plunger 53 fromnotched bar, "fluidfor operating 'sai'd timer Distonis directed 'to the head endof cylinder flflny valve I I5 whichmay be-shiftd to a closed position by a solenoid I I5 against the action of spring II1.

Solenoid H5 is energized or deenergized as the occasion requires at predetermined intervals by means of a, timing mechanism I I8. Fluid under pressure for operating the various mechanisms is supplied by a pump I20 t rough line I2I to reversing vave 20 from which it is directed alternately through lines 2I and 22 to opposite ends of cylinder II. Line I23 connectsline I2I with valve I04 from which fluid passes through line I24, valve II 0, and line I26 to the other portion 23' ofreversing valve 20. From line I26 a supply of fluid under constant pressure is thus always availableat said reversing valve from which it might be directed alternately through line I21 or I28 to ine I29. Fluid under pressure in line I29 acts on valve I30, shifting it upwardly and uncovering line I3! lead ng to the left-hand section 33 of by-pess valve 30. In any position of said bv-nass vareexcept the left-hand position, said fiuidwoud he directed through line I32 to the left-hand end of valve I I0. The force exerted on said valve by'said fluid l s that exerted in the same vdirectionbyispring I35 is greater than the pressure'exerted against tl-e opposite end and, therefore. shifts said valve to the right.

Fluid from line I 2I is also directed through line I43 to t e left-hand end of cylinder I01. Pressure is available constantly in this end of 'the cylinder so'that when the opposite endis con- .nected to an exhaust passage, the piston will be imovedto'the right.

Another supply of fluid under pressure from line I2I passes through line I4I to so enoidoperated valve II5. When said valve is in the right-hand position, it directs said fluid through -lne- I42, check valve I43, and line I44 to t e head end of-cylinder I01. When by-pass valve 30 isin the left-hand position, the fluid suppied to the left-handend of valve H0 is blocked} and said valve remains in the position shown. -In this pos tion of valve IIO, pressure-ismainta ned by line I23 through valve I04 to line HIS-through valve II'0 to lines I45 and'I44' to cylinder I01.

As soon-as by-pass valve 30 is shifted to central or right-ha d position, fluid under pressure from line I'3I is directed throu h line I32 to s ift valve IIO to the ri ht, connecting the headend of cylinder I51 t rough ine I44 -and'line'I45 with 'line I48-which in turn is connected by-valve I04 'withan exhaust passage, thus permitting the constantsupply of fluid under pressure in line I40 to resetjpiston I06.

Operation Assuming carriage I0 to be in'the extreme lefthand position with portion 59 of plunger 53 "against stop 62,lever 40 is moved to'theright and latched, as shown in Figure 2. Valve 20 is shifted to the right also, as is valve 30. With lever 40 in this position, projecting member '80 thereon closes headstock limit switch 8I,:energizes'relay 83 which closes contact 84 to complete the circuit to headstock motor 82. In the righthandposition, va ve 20 directs fluid under pressurefrom line I2I through line 22 to the'head end of cylinder II, causing piston I2" to move carriage I0 to the right until portion'59 of plunger 53 drops into the first notch in response to the action of' spring I08 transmitted through valve I04; arm I02,'shaft IOI, and arm I02.

Carria e I0 cont nues to move after the plunger hasentered the notch until theside of 'the notch "fingages said plunger; shifting the plunger to the stationary in its right-hand position.

5 right. This movement is transmitted through sliding member 52 to lever 50, moving said lever in a clockwise direction and shifting valve 20 to the left until line |2| is blocked, thus preventing further flow of fluid under pressure to cylinder I2 and stopping the movement of carriage I0.

It should be noted here that lever 50 is moved in a clockwise direction while lever 40 remains This movement of lever 50 while pin 42 in lever 40 remains stationary causes spring 58 to be placed in tension against pin 56.

When valve 30 moves to the right, the connection between lines 3| and 32 is broken so that fluid under pressure will not be conducted to both sides of cylinder I2. At the same time the lefthand section 23 of reversing valve 20 directs fluid under pressure from line I26 through lines I28 and I29, valve I30 and line |3| to left-hand section 33 of valve 30. With valve 30 in the righthand position, fluid from line |3| is directed through line I32 to the left-hand end of valve H0, shifting said valve to the right to connect line I45 with line I48 leading to valve I04, which connects said line and, therefore, the head end of cylinder I01 with an exhaust passage.

The head end of cylinder I01 being thus connected with an exhaust line, the fluid under pressure always available in line I40 at the other end of said cylinder moves piston I06 to the right until stopped by adjusting screw I09. This permits the above-described action by which plunger 53 engages the first notch in the spacing bar.

After carriage I has been positioned for the grinding of the first cam, timer H9 may be started by any suitable means to determine the duration of the grinding operation or any part thereof.

At the end of the predetermined period, said timer deenergizes solenoid H6; and valve H is moved to the right by spring H1. In this position of valve H5, the fluid under pressure in line I 4| is directed through line I42, check valve I43, and line I44 to the right-hand end of cylinder I01, moving piston I06 to the left. This movement of piston I06 causes arm I03 and associated parts to be rotated in a clockwise direction to withdraw plunger 53 from the first notch 60 in spacing bar 6| and also to shift valve I04 to the left against spring I08.

In this position valve I04 connects line I42 with exhaust through line I49, thus by-passing the supply of fluid to cylinder I01 and temporarily preventing further withdrawal of plunger 53 from the spacing bar. In this position also, fluid under pressure from line I23 is directed to line I46, check valve I41, valve H0, line I45 to line I44 and cylinder I01 to continue the leftward movement of piston I06 and thus to complete the withdrawal of plunger 53. The slight delay in complete withdrawal of the plunger permits the withdrawal of the work cradle to inoperative position before the traverse movement begins.

Because of the tension in spring 58, lever 50 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 5| to shift valve 20 to the right and sliding member 52 and plunger 53 to the left out of alignment with the notch from which it has just been withdrawn. The previously described indexing movement is repeated, carriage I0 moving again to the right until the plunger drops in the next notch.

As carriage I0 moves into position to grind the last cam, dog engages bell-crank 1|, moving it in a clockwise direction against lever 40 pushing said lever outwardly from the bed to release it from its latched position. Said lever is then moved to the right-hand position by means of spring 13. This movement releases headstock limit switch 8|, shifts valve 30 to the left-hand position and puts spring 51 in tension. Valve remains in central position.

Opening switch 8| deenergizes relay 83 and opens the circuit to motor 82 through contact 84.

Shortly before dog 10 engages bell-crank 1|, dog 90 on said carriage engages dresser limit switch 9|, energizing relay 92 and closing contacts 93 and 94. Closing contact 94 completes a circuit parallel to that through contact 84 and maintains motor 82 in operation after the contact 84 has been opened.

Contact 93 completes a circuit to dresser solenoid 95 to initiate a wheel dressing operation similar to those described in the above-mentioned patents. Said solenoid shifts a valve 98 to direct fluid under pressure through a reversing valve 99 alternately to opposite ends of a dresser cylinder III. A piston H2 in said cylinder has a piston rod H3 on which a dressing diamond H4 is mounted for dressing the grinding wheel I1. However, fluid for actuating piston H2 is not available until valve I 04 is shifted to the left upon withdrawal of plunger 53 after the last cam on a shaft has been ground. In this position of valve I04, fluid is directed through line I46 to said dressing mechanism.

With valve 30 in the left-hand position, the connection between lines 3| and 32 is broken so as to permit fluid under pressure to reach only the right-hand end of cylinder II. Also in this position the left-hand section 33 of valve 30 blocks line |3|, preventing flow of fluid under pressure to the left end of valve I I0 so that said valve remains in the position shown.

When timer I I8 functions at the end of the grinding operation on the last cam. valve H5 is returned to the right-hand position directing fluid under pressure through line I42, check valve I43, line I44 to the head end of cylinder I01, moving piston I06 to shift valve I04 to the left and withdraw plunger 53 from spacing bar 8|. The withdrawal of said plunger permits spring 51 to shift ever 50 in a clockwise direction, moving valve 20 to the left and directing fluid under pressure from line 2| through line 2| to the right-hand end of cylinder H. Piston I2 and carriage I0 move to the left, but plunger 53 is prevented from dropping into the notches 60 during this movement because valve II 0 has remained in the right-hand position, thus maintaining pressure of fluid on the head end of cylinder I01 through lines I44, I45 to valve H0 and from valve H0 to line I48 to the exhaust connection in valve I04. The carriage, therefore, continues to move to the right until plunger 53 is engaged by stop 62, shifting said plunger slightly to the left and through sliding member 52 rotating lever 50 in a counterclockwise direction to return valve 20 to a neutral position and thus shut ofi the supply of fluid to cylinder II.

When carriage I0 begins to move to the left, limit switch 9| is released, opening contacts 93 and 94. Opening contact 94 breaks the circuit to motor 82. However, contact 94 is by-passed through contact 98 which is actuated by a cam 91 on the headstock spindle. This cam engages the contact only when the cradle has been dropped to inoperative position, as described in the above-mentioned Patent 2,243,410.

I. claim:

1. In a grinding machine, a work carriage, means for rotatably' supporting a work piece thereon, means for rotating said work piece, means for effecting longitudinal movement of said carriage, means for effecting said movement intermittently for grinding axially spaced portions on a work piece, means for returning the carriage to starting position and stopping the work rotation after the last portion has been ground including a reversing lever normally in position. for said return movement, a latch for holding said lever in position for said intermittent movement, a switch operated by said lever at the beginning of said intermittent movement for starting said work rotation, and means responsive to said intermittent movement for releasing said lever.

2. In a grinding machine, a work carriage, means for rotatably supporting a work piece thereon, means for rotating said work piece, means for efiecting longitudinal movement of said carriage, means for eilecting said movement intermittently for grinding axially spaced portions on a work piece, means for returning the carriage to starting position and stopping the work rotation after the last portion has been ground including a reversing lever normally in position for said return movement, a latch for holding said lever in position for said intermittent movement, a switch operated by said lever at the beginning of said intermittent movement for starting said work rotation, means responsive to said intermittent movement for releas-.- ing said lever, a second switch in control of said work rotation, and means responsive to said intermittent movement for actuating said switch at substantially the same time said lever is released, said second switch serving to prevent stopping work rotation until after said return movement begins.

3. In a grinding machine, a work carriage, means for rotatably supporting a work piece theron, means for rotating said work piece, means for efiecting longitudinal movement of said carriage, means for effecting said movement intermittently for grinding axially spaced portions on a work piece including a spacing bar having notches thereon, a plunger and means operable normally for urging said plunger into engagement with said notches, means operable during movement of said carriage in one direction for withdrawing said plunger from each of said notches after a predetermined interval including a piston and cylinder having a constant pressure connection at one end thereof for resetting said piston and permitting a return of said plunger to contact with said spacing bar, means for returning the carriage to starting position after the last portion has been ground, and means for preventing exhaust of fluid from the other end of said cylinder during said return movement whereby to hold said plunger in tion.

4. In a grinding machine, a grinding wheel and means for dressing same, a work carriage, means for rotatably supporting a work piece thereon, means for rotating said work piece, means for effecting longitudinal movement of said carriage, means for efiecting said movement intermittently for grinding axially spaced portions on a work piece, means for returning the carriage to starting position and stopping the work rotation after the last portion has been ground, including a reversing lever normally in positon for said return movement, a latch for holding said lever in position for said intermittent movement, a switch operated by said lever at the beginning of said intermittent movement for starting said work rotation, means responsive to said intermittent movement for releasing said lever, a second switch in control of said dressing operation,- and means responsive to said intermittent movement for actuating said starting switch, said second switch serving in conjunction with the means for returning said carriage to starting position to initiate operation of said dressing means.

5. In a grinding machine, a work carriage, a grinding wheel and means for dressing same, means for rotatably supporting a work piece thereon, means for rotating said work piece, means for effecting longitudinal movement of said carrage, m ans for effecting said movement intermittently for grinding axially spaced portions on a work piece, means for returning the carriage to starting position and stopping the work rotation after the last portion has been ground including a reversLng lever normally in position for said return movement, a latch for holding said lever in position for said intermittent movement, a switch operated by said lever at the beginning of said intermittent movement for starting said work rotation, means responsive to said intermittent movement for releasing said lever, a srcond switch in control of said work rotation, and means responsive to said intermittent movement for actuating said switch at substantially the same time said lever is released, said second switch serving to prevent stopping work rotation until after said return movement begins, sad second switch serving also to initiate operation of said dressing mechanism.

RALPH E. PRICE.

withdrawn posi- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Num er Name Date 2.015/114 Steiner et al Sept. 24, 1935 2,022,178 Belden et al Nov. 26, 1935 2,117,916 Silven et a1 May 1'7, 1938 

